Honolulu -- Crowe Garden

Object Details

sova.aag.gca_ref6369
GUID
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb69f853e0a-7c7b-4491-bd10-1d634e00a55d
General
Situated on the western side of Kuliwai Lagoon in the Kuliouou area of Honolulu, this garden was designed and built in the late 1940s. The architecture and gardens of Japan were the inspiration for both the garden and the adjacent house. The lava boulders and stepping stones were all imported to the site and were carefully placed, with the exception of the largest boulder, which fell off the truck and landed in the middle of the lawn area where it remains today. Plants were carefully chosen to suite the location, which is close to the ocean and demands salt-tolerant material. In the Japanese tradition, trees and bushes were selected for their sculptural quality and pruned to maintain a pleasing line. Japanese-style gardens of this type were very popular in the late 1940s through the 1970s, but the high cost of maintaining sculptured gardens led to the demise of many of them, although there has been a resurgence of interest in recent years. During her lifetime the original owner, Mrs. R. G. A. Crowe, was responsible for the design and maintenance of her garden. A perfectionist, she spent many hours each day pruning, picking up leaves, and grooming plants. Although the house was rented for 10 years after Mrs. Crowe's death, the garden was maintained by a landscape crew under the direction of a close friend of Mrs. Crowe. The current owners, who acquired the property in 2000, are updating, restoring, and revitalizing both the house and the garden.
Persons associated with the property include: Mr. and Mrs. R. G. A. Crowe (former owners, 1946-1992); Mr. and Mrs. R. Dougal Crowe (former owners, 1992-2000); Albert Ely "Bert" Ives (architect and landscape designer, 1946-1950); and Yolanda Clay (landscape designer and gardener, 1989-2000).
Former owner
Crowe, R. G. A.
Crowe, R. G. A., Mrs.
Crowe, R. Dougal
Crowe, R. Dougal, Mrs.
Architect
Ives, Albert Ely, 1898-1966
Landscape designer
Ives, Albert Ely, 1898-1966
Clay, Yolanda
Gardener
Clay, Yolanda
Provenance
The Garden Club of Honolulu
Collection Creator
Garden Club of America
Place
Crowe Garden (Honolulu, Hawaii)
United States of America -- Hawaii -- Honolulu County -- Honolulu
Topic
Gardens -- Hawaii -- Honolulu
Former owner
Crowe, R. G. A.
Crowe, R. G. A., Mrs.
Crowe, R. Dougal
Crowe, R. Dougal, Mrs.
Architect
Ives, Albert Ely, 1898-1966
Landscape designer
Ives, Albert Ely, 1898-1966
Clay, Yolanda
Gardener
Clay, Yolanda
Provenance
The Garden Club of Honolulu
See more items in
The Garden Club of America collection
The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Gardens / Hawaii
Sponsor
A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
Custodial History
The Garden Club of Honolulu facilitated the submission of this garden's documentation.
Archival Repository
Archives of American Gardens
Identifier
AAG.GCA, File HI027
Type
Archival materials
Collection Citation
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Collection Rights
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Bibliography
Garden has been featured in Horace Clay and James Hubbard, Trees for Hawaiian Gardens (Honolulu: University of Hawaii Cooperative Extension Service, 1962), p. 38.
Scope and Contents
The folder includes a worksheet, a garden plan, and narrative histories/descriptions of the garden and the Kuliwai Lagoon area.
Collection Restrictions
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Related Materials
Crowe Garden related holdings consist of 1 folder (9 35 mm. slides)
AAG.GCA_ref6369
Large EAD
AAG.GCA
AAG
Record ID
ebl-1643208220039-1643210179137-1
Honolulu -- Crowe Garden
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